Overview & Reviews

The Hyundai Elantra Touring was based on the European version of the fourth-generation Elantra sedan. Compared to the sedan of the same time period, the Elantra Touring hatchback wagon had a slightly longer wheelbase, sportier suspension tuning and different styling inside and out.

Where the Elantra Touring really stood out, however, was with its hauling abilities. The interior was roomy enough to seat four adults in comfort, and cargo volume was impressive. Unfortunately, the Touring never sold in big numbers, and Hyundai eventually replaced it with the newer Elantra GT. But if you need a used practical hauler with some driving spirit, the Elantra Touring merits a close look.

Used Hyundai Elantra Touring
Produced from 2009 through 2012, the Hyundai Elantra Touring was initially offered in a single well-equipped trim level. For 2010, Hyundai broke out the Touring into two trim levels, GLS and SE. Standard equipment on the GLS included air-conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, full power accessories, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and a six-speaker sound system with a USB/iPod interface.

There was an optional package available for the GLS that we recommend looking for that included extra features including roof rails, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, upgraded upholstery and additional driver seat adjustments. Those features were standard on the SE, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, leather upholstery and heated front seats. Bluetooth was optional on both models.

The Elantra Touring was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 138 horsepower and 137 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, and a four-speed automatic was optional.

Inside, there was plenty of room for all occupants and their gear. The Touring was more like a midsize wagon than a compact hatchback, as it offered 24 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a massive 65 cubes with them folded down. The latter is more than many competing hatchbacks or wagons. The Touring's cabin design came from Hyundai's European studios, but the result -- primarily in terms of the interior materials – was inferior to the U.S.-market Elantra sedan of the same time.

On the road, we found the Hyundai Elantra Touring performed reasonably well, hitting 60 mph in a little under 9 seconds. The Touring's ride was also smooth and stable, and the relatively quiet cabin made it a good highway cruiser.

If versatility and utility are at the top of your list, a used Hyundai Elantra Touring stands as a great choice among small hatchbacks or wagons, especially considering its feature content, large cargo capacity and overall drivability.

User Reviews:

• 

  1 year review...so far so good!! - 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By gwilly - January 18 - 8:27 am

  We already have a 07 AWD Santa Fe, with a pretty reliable record. Didnt know about this car 1 year ago, but it fits the bill perfectly. Mileage is 25-28 city and 31-34 highway with a light foot, car coasts very easily in neutral, I throw it there often. Ride can be harsh on the freeway in So Cal, my wife dislikes this bumpiness caused by the perpendicular cross-cuts in the pavement for water drainage. Overall no problems at all, with a few rattles coming from the shifter and occasionally the car idles like a diesel for no reason. I would recommend the manual shifter if you want to have more control over the driving experience. Older people with bad backs will not like the SE.

• 

  The touring is a Good buy for the money - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By DJ Rebell - July 23 - 11:36 am

  Needed something inexpensive but reliable and roomy. I am dj and I just needed a car to get me to and from my gigs the touring offers a lot of space Im a very tall guy and I have no leg room problems god knows Ive been in suvs and I felt more cramped up. So far my equipments fit nicely but the bumpy ride make me uneasy with my equipments and I live in New York where there are potholes on every corner. Other than the bumpy ride the acceleration is a little slow and I wish it wasnt because this car has a very sporty feeling and the engine hums like a sports car so when Im driving it I feel like I wanna kick up dust. But for the price of the car its pretty decent. I would recommend it.

• 

  3K on my Touring - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By hellchild656 - June 13 - 3:10 am

  I have had a 1994 Toyota Camry Used with 235000 miles on it and I have had a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laradeo 2003 used with 66000 miles on it trust me the Jeep was by far the biggest piece of crap in the world. The Toyota well for the older car it was great on fuel but I couldnt ask for a better car.

• 

  Oops - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Tom - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Thought this would be an economical 2nd car since Hyundai touts 35 mpg. I use car on hwy and rural roads no city driving and I am averaging 24 to 25 mpg. My V6 AWD RAV 268 hp gets 22 to 23 mpg with same driving. The car definitely is lacking power and is very noisy when trying to get it going. I believe the 17" rims make this car ride hard. Wrong choice for me.

• 

  Needs cruise for manual trans - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Joe - February 15 - 2:00 am

  Overall its a great car. Going from an SUV that average 18 mpg to a hatchback with nearly just as much room that averages about 28 mpg for me Im very pleased with my purchase. I wish the base model came with more options (mostly Cruise control!), but with what you get in a base model for 15k its great

• 

  An excellent car - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By RCFLYER - January 24 - 6:50 am

  We wanted to downsize from a Ford Escape, without giving up too much room, and the Elantra touring has turned out to be an excellent choice. Looks like they took all of the good features of all the other look alikes on the market and put into this model. Its got just enough more room in it than the competition to be noticeable, and comes standard with all the features we wanted. So far were getting about 30 mpg in mixed driving. We bought a Mazda 3 5dr last year and between the two, the Mazdas a little more fun to drive - better handling and power, but the Hyundai is more comfortable on a long trip.

• 

  Surprised by how much I like it. - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By mom22kids - August 30 - 10:16 am

  We bought this car during Cash for Clunkers, and my goal was to buy the least expensive car that would meet our immediate needs. This car fit that bill. I am really surprised at how much I like it--the hatchback makes a huge difference for getting things (strollers) in/out. We bought the SE b/c of the bigger tires to make the ride a bit more smooth and b/c the moon roof made things feel cramped. Great vehicle for hauling kids and their gear. A bit loud, but for this price what do you expect?

• 

  Really impressed after 82,000 miles - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By pistolpete10 - August 24 - 7:55 am

  Bought it new in 2009. Of all the imports I bought before, (Mazda and Honda) this car had by far the most comfortable driving seat. Well padded and a lumbar support, with every which way adjustment, which was important for my frequent long drives. Very reliable, amazing storage room which Ive used time and again. Minor glitch in that speakers had to be replaced twice, under warranty and replaced brake pedal once for squeaking. Love the steering feel especially in tight city driving. More then enough power on highway etc, even though its buzzy. So far less problems than Ive ever had with previous other cars. Wouldnt trade it in for anything else though Ive been asked to, many times.

• 

  Great small wagon- lots of room - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By sshoredrvr - August 18 - 12:03 pm

  This is a great small car for city driving but it has a lot of cargo space. I did a ton of research and looked at similar cars, this was the least expensive but had similar features. The car drives nice and has handled well in the snow. I am short and did not find as many blind spots as with other cars, yet there is a lot of headroom. It is slightly higher than standard cars, giving me a good view of the road It is not the the most exciting car but it drives well and is functional- the cost and reliability of Hyundai won me over. I have had no problems so far

• 

  Makes me car sick - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Car sick - June 29 - 9:30 pm

  I drove a 2000 Elantra wagon for the last 10yrs. I loved it so I purchased a 2010 touring. This time I got 5sp Manual GSL to save $1200 on purchase price and to get better gas mileage and performace. Paid $15000 vs $11700 ten yrs earlier. I since added Rosta after market cruise $400 and trailer hitch $100. Heated seats cost $250 each aftermarket. Whats better with my new car. Faster, Handeling, brakes,radio,headroom,gas mileage, power door locks on key fob, storage areas. Whats worse, stiff ride,jerkiness of manual shifting vs automatic,tires, no lumbar support. Both cars dent too easily. I love the rear loading area. I call it my covered pickup truck. Getting use to firm ride. Fun to drive